The Lost Generations
By Paul Henson
(May 2012)
.......My mother lived on Twells Street St Anns with her mum Ruby and dad Leslie as I have said before on here, but her grandparants live just down the road at No3 they had had three sons and one daughter, the daughter Lilian Swanwick was my Grandads little sister. I saw her last year at a family reunion and asked her some questions about her life, what her brothers were like, what life was like in St Anns during the war.
This was her reply to me below - however, sadly she died just before Christmas 2011 "My four brothers (Leslie, Glennie, Cyril“Sid”, and Albert Swanwick) were all football supporters; Les was the only Forest supporter. Many were the after-match discussions on a Saturday night, the others were all County fans. My dad (John Samuel Swanwick) was a good amateur player for Basford United, he had some medals which went to Les after his death (Les played for Radcliffe Olympic). My dad had served in the First World War in the Royal Field Artillery and then when injured served with the Army Service Corps as a driver in Salonika. They had a lot of interest in bikes, Les was captain of Notts Castle Bicycle Club until 1934. Glen had a tandem, I had many a ride on the back of that. They were “called up” in WWII, but not Les (he was born with a hernia and they wouldn’t let him in even though he was a keen sportsman) but in order to do his bit, he went to work at Langer repairing aircraft. He was into firewatching, maybe an air raid warden, not the home guard." They all went to St Ann’s school, as I did
Albert was a painter and decorator, he was called up later than the others, first was the Royal Artillery, I think; then later into the Seaforth Highlanders, he had a kilt I remember. Glen was married to Nellie and they had one son whom he sadly never saw. (He was in the 14th Bn., Sherwood Foresters 4981971, Notts and Derby Regiment, he was killed in action 1944 during the Anzio landings Italy). Yes there were shelters in Twells street, we tried not to use them,smelly places. (Shelters behind No 19 Chimney sweeps house) Charlie (Chamberlain) and I were married in 1944. He volunteered in the Navy in 1941, he served on a destroyer HMS Hurslet; first convoys to Russia then the Med Convoys to Malta, then moved up to a cruiser HMS Sirius, then on to the Battleship HMS Anson ready for D Day. Then went to th Pacific and Australia. When the war ended he came home, then on aircraft carrier HMS Victorious rank able seaman. After my dad died Les wrote to the Football Post about him being an amateur footballer. We all went to St Ann’s School (Board School) ...............Lilian Chamberlain nee Swanwick The following was passed on to me at Lilian’s funeral
When Lilian had gone to Blackpool to see the illuminations with her dad and mum (sometime in the 1930’s) they arrived home to find a muddy football placed on top of the sugar bowl, it had been used in a Notts County match and had been won afterwards by her brothers, in the “penny for the ball”raffle. The sugar bowl was a precious item and their mother was not amused. ....................Paul Henson |
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facebook group:
www.facebook.com/groups/StAnnsWellRdPreDemolition1970